Simple clear advice in plain English

Flightgear 2.0

Take to the skies with this free flight simulator

screenshot-of-flightgear

Fly different aircraft in Flightgear

Flightgear is a free open source flight simulator. It has been designed to be easy to add new aircraft and scenery. Flightgear 2.0 is mainly a bug fix release of the previous version, 1.9, which was almost a complete rewriting of the program. Improvements include better graphics and computer controlled aircraft to fly with. A full list of improvements is available on the Flightgear website.

Extra aircraft are always being added to the list and range from large airliners to military aircraft and helicopters.

Instruments on the accurately simulate the affects of pressure or the magnetic field on each aircraft.

There are 20,000 real world airports with correct runway markings and approach lights. There are downloads of more aircraft and scenery areas available to expand Flightgear even further.

The full scenery for the whole world would take up three DVDs so areas are downloaded individually. A graphical interface makes it easy to select the correct area to download.

A manual is supplied with Flightgear but it is still work in progress and only the basic information at the beginning is finished.

There are also versions available for Linux and Mac OSX. A full list of supported operating systems can be found here.

Read more reviews

Reader Comments

Wrong link - now corrected

Sorry about that, the link now takes you to the correct Flightgear site Kind regards Tim

Posted by Tim Smith, 07 Jan 2009

Changing aircraft while running?

This is a nice program but how the heck do you actually get to change the aircraft while running??

Posted by Marc M., 23 Dec 2008

Wrong link

Clicking the Flightgear link takes you to flightgear.com, a jet parts manufacturer. Type in flightgear.org to get to correct web siite.

Posted by DixiePenguin, 24 Dec 2008

Omar

Does anybody know what system requirments are needed to run this game smoothly? I have Flight siumlator X but it is far to complex for my computer, occasionaly I can use my Dads but no often

Posted by Omar, 20 Jan 2009

Downloaded software

Hi twice I have downloaded this software and each time I click on to run it I gey a half screen black box with C:/ in the start line area and my whole computer freezes, I have completely uninstalled it and wont re-install it until I know what I am doing wrong. Do I have to disable my Avast anti virus of my firewall or something else before installing it

Posted by Bob Hamilton, 07 Feb 2009

Make sure your video card supports open GL

Your simulator will run much better if your video card supports openGL. I have an ancient 3 year old - P4 3GHz machine with upgraded 2.5 Gb's of RAM. The video card is an ATI Radeon X300se with 128Mb's. It didn't display graphics properly the first time but I downloaded the updated drivers and it runs fine on my machine.

Posted by Chris, 01 May 2009

Flightgeargear with add ons is beautiful

Flightgear is a great program. One of the most accurate SIM around. To add additional add ons, there is a comprehensive website www.unitedfreeworld.com which provides various add on which some are not even in the official site. In all, this is a great program and highly recommended.

Posted by Flightgearfan, 27 Sep 2009

Ok 4 Free

Had a little play around cant say im that impressed my self, usual bugs and burps in the graphics. Im running a top end gaming rig here and expected alot more from this style of game/simulator but i do suppose there could be a conflict on my machine... I couldnt find if it liked my x64 version windows vista or not... I will give it 8/10 as it does boast alot of cool upgrades and add ons and the aircraft are very good.. If you are giving it a go make sure to check out the website as its jam packed with stuff to help you..

Posted by The Master Gee, 03 Oct 2009

does not work

it dosent work and the folders are empty

Posted by bean, 19 Aug 2010

Yes it runs in 64bit Windows 7 too!

Install FlightGear ver 2.0.0 for Windows 32 bit first. It will load to program files by default. Then install FightGear 64 bit but this time install it directly to C drive. This is a sort of overlay program to get 64 bit facility. Then if you have a Joystick make sure FG "sees" it. Under the Start menu FG/tools you'll find js_demo which will give you the correct name for your joystick. So make sure your joystick.xml name is correct! If not rename the xml as per js_demo. NO not the xml file name! Open the source notepad and rename it there. E.G.My Saitek Aviator renamed is...... <name Saitek Aviator Stick</name . Once that's sorted.....Go Fly! My you-tube chnl "Flightgearsim" shows the fun you'll have!

Posted by Flightgearsim, 14 May 2011

display:none  

Add your comment

All fields must be completed. Your email address will not be displayed or used to send marketing messages.

All messages will be checked by moderators before appearing on the site.

See our Privacy Policy for more information.

Related downloads

bejeweled-title-screen

Bejeweled HD is a game that is perfect for the iPad

The colour matching game is lots of fun with a touch screen

hank-hazard-stunt-hamster-title

Hank Hazard - the Stunt Hamster

Exactly how much fun can a hamster have in his ball? Lots if he can avoid the sharks and flames in this fun iPad and iPhone app

gamebooster

Optimise your computer for games with Iobit Game Booster

This system optimiser is available at no cost for a limited time

Our verdict

Suitable for

Windows XP

Download size

291.7MB

Best deals on the web

img

HTC Wildfire S Mobile Phone Handset Free on 3 (Three) mobile - Month Contract

£0.00- Buy it now

img

Samsung Galaxy S II Mobile Phone Handset £29.00 on 3 (Three) mobile - 24 Month Contract

£29.00- Buy it now

img

HTC One X Mobile Phone Handset £29.00 on 3 (Three) mobile - 24 Month Contract

£29.00- Buy it now

Latest issue & subscription deals

Poll

Are you concerned about viruses that target mobile phones?

Jargon Buster

Computing terms explained in plain English

Restore point

A Windows backup of system files and settings.

Great shopping deals from Computeractive